Choosing a gas oven - crib for the buyer of 7 steps

The gas oven is heated by the burners, and the electric one by means of infrared heating elements.

Which is better - gas or electric?

First, let's find out when it is better to choose a gas oven, and in which cases - an electric one.

What is the gas oven wins?

• Efficiency of use is the main advantage, because gas is significantly cheaper than electricity.
• The gas oven itself costs a little less than an electric one.
• Simple and familiar to all management with the most necessary set of functions.
• The taste of dishes cooked under a gas grill, more close to the dishes cooked on charcoal.
• If your kitchen is weak electrical wiring, the gas oven - the best and sometimes the only correct option.
• The design of the gas cabinet is simple, and therefore - and its maintenance is easier, and it breaks less often.

And yet, there are reasons why electric ovens are more in demand today for more gas.

What is the gas oven losing?

• In cheap models of gas ovens there is no convection function, which means that the food in them will be baked unevenly and overcook from the bottom. An electric oven distributes heat more evenly.
• Today, most ovens are equipped with electric ignition and gas control, so the probability of gas leakage is minimal. And yet, it is impossible to completely eliminate such a risk.
• If the gas cabinet can heat up to a maximum of 230 ° C, then the electric one can reach up to 300 ° C, which is important if you often cook pizza, for example.
• Gas oven warms up to the desired temperature more slowly.
• Electric ovens have many more features and programs. For example, some electric ovens can heat or thaw food in the microwave mode and even cook in the double boiler mode.

See also: How to choose an electric oven in 9 steps

Step-by-Step Cheat Sheet for Buyer

Step 1. Decide what kind of built-in cabinet you need - dependent or independent?

A built-in gas oven, like an electric one, can be dependent and independent. In terms of functionality, they do not differ, what is the difference and what is better in practice?

• Dependent models - when the oven is built right under the hob, they are wired and have a common control panel. This option is beneficial if you plan to build an oven under the hob, then you will not overpay for the possibility of independent connection. But it is necessary to make such a set taking into account the compatibility of the equipment and from one manufacturer, which means that the choice will be limited and complicated.

Important: in fact, there is a very small selection of gas dependent cabinets and compatible gas cooktops on the market, and it is completely impossible to make a set of electrical panels and a gas oven.

Tip: if you have children, choose a dependent oven with a lock function and protection from children.

• Independent models - such gas cabinets are in greater demand, since they can be embedded anywhere and at any height, for example, at chest level as in the photo below, which is much more convenient, and safer for children.

Independent ovens are more difficult to install, cost a little more, but their choice is more, which is important, because the range of gas cabinets is not so large as compared to electric ones.

Step 2. Choose size and volume

The height and depth of almost all built-in gas ovens are about the same, only their width can vary: 45 cm, 60 cm, 90 cm. The volume of full-sized chambers varies from 56 to 74 liters, the volume of compact stoves varies from 27 to 45 liters.

What gas oven is suitable for your family should be decided on the basis of the number of its members, their needs, the frequency of cooking and the size of the kitchen:

• 45 cm - narrow ovens are the best option for small kitchen and a small family of 2-3 people, but it’s impossible to cook big dishes in them;
• 60 cm - standard width for large and medium kitchens. Such ovens are versatile, roomy and suitable for a large family of 5-6 people;
• 90 cm - suitable for a very large family, spacious kitchen or for those who love to cook. The photo below shows the oven of that width.

Step 3. Pick an oven design and color

The kitchen looks much better when the built-in gas oven has a front panel that matches the color and style of your headset. However, the choice of colors in standard ovens is not much. Primary colors are silver, black and white.

• Silver - the most versatile color of the facade, will fit into any interior;

• White, cream and beige - an oven with such a facade will perfectly fit into interior of light color;

• Black - the front panel of this color can support the interior in contrasting colors or complement the kitchen in dark colors.

Step 4. Do you need convection?

We recommend not to abandon models with this feature. A gas oven with convection has a fan located in the back wall of the cabinet that circulates warm air throughout the oven. Thus, dishes are baked evenly, which is very important for a gas oven with one heating element. In addition, the convection function allows you to cook on two baking trays at the same time.

Step 5. Which grill is better - gas or electric?

Modern gas ovens most often have a grill function. Despite the fact that the oven runs on gas, the grill in it can be electric. What is the difference and which grill is better - gas or electric?

• Gas grill more close to the conditions of frying on coals. But you need to adjust to it, in time to turn the food and select the desired temperature.

• The electric grill is more convenient to use, since it distributes the heat evenly, and you can give it an exact temperature, but to taste the dishes prepared with it will lose a little to the dishes fried with gas burners.

Step 6. Pay attention to the oven with self-cleaning function.

In some modern models on gas there is a very useful in practice function - catalytic self-cleaning. In such ovens, the fan blades and the walls of the inner chamber contain in the coating a catalyst that softens and destroys food residues. After the function stops working, there will be a loose coating on the surfaces, which will be wiped off with a damp sponge without any problems. However, the effectiveness of catalytic purification is maintained only for 5-7 years, and then drops sharply. However, if necessary, the internal surfaces are removable and replaceable.

Step 7. Make sure there are useful additions in the models you like and there are no unnecessary ones.

Oven gas can have mandatory and additional features.

Required options:

• interior lighting - it should evenly and well illuminate the food, so that you can once again not open the camera and release heat from it;

• gas control - thanks to him, the gas supply stops automatically if the flame for some reason fades;
• electric ignition - in modern models it is most often automatic when the spark is ignited by turning the knob. But there are also models with manual ignition, when for ignition of burners it is necessary to press the release button of the spark and at the same time turn the knob. Keep in mind that the electric ignition button must be held for a few seconds before the gas is ignited - which is not very convenient, but is justified from a security point of view.

Additional and desirable features:

• Telescopic guides are optional but desirable additions. These guides are the end inserts in the shelves of the chamber (photo below), which will allow you to check the readiness of the food, pulling the pan with your hands without tacking;

• protection from children - from accidental activation and change of cooking mode;
• additional glasses - their number can vary from 1 to 4. The more glasses in the doors, the better the insulation of the device, and therefore the dish will be prepared faster and unwanted heating of equipment and furniture will not occur;
• There are modern models where gas burners are located nonlinearly, and "horseshoe" or round.

Postscript about manufacturers

If we talk about the manufacturer, then traditionally the best gas ovens are produced by Italian companies, while the electric palm is given to the Germans.

(Rate the material! Already voted:66 average rating: 4,39 from 5)

Loading...

For details on how to choose a gas oven, see the following video:

See also:

• How to choose a gas hob - 5-step guide for the buyer
• Choosing built-in appliances for the kitchen
• How to choose a hob - 15 questions and answers
• Design and renovation of the kitchen with gas stove
• Built-in refrigerator - the nuances of selection and installation
• Hood in the kitchen - what you need to pay attention to when buying